Sealed edge machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus to automatically provide severed sealed edge products to prevent unraveling. The machine is so designed to automatically hold the fabric during formation and to automatically guide the fabric during the advancing stage of the fabric prior to the formation of subsequent sealed edge products.

United States Patent Inventors Andreas M. Michaelides Welliord; Charles A. Wethington, Spartanburg, both of S.C. Appl. No. 835,187 Filed June 20, 1969 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 Assignee Deerlng Milliken Research Corporation Spartanburg, S.C.

SEALED EDGE MACHINE 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1. 156/511, 156/269, 156/515, 156/554 Int. Cl. ..B32b 31/18, B32b 31/20 Field of Search 156/166,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,817 6/1956 Piazze et al. 156/271 X 3,283,671 11/1966 Campbell..... 156/510X 3,451,870 6/1969 Pearson 156/515 X 3,385,747 5/1968 Klein etal 156/517 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-James M. Hanley Attorneys-Norman C. Armitage and H. William Petry ABSTRACT: Apparatus to automatically provide severed sealed edge products to prevent unraveling. The machine is so designed to automatically hold the fabric during formation and to automatically guide the fabric during the advancing stage of the fabric prior to the formation of subsequent sealed edge products.

PATEHTEUSEPZI m sum 1 or 6 J I on m M g INVENTORS ANDREAS M.MICHAELI DES CHARLES A.WETHINGTON ATTORNEY PATENTED SEPZI IHYI SMEI 2 [IF 6 m. INVENTORS ANDREAS M.MICHAELIDES CHARLES A.WETH| NGTON MQ WMM ATTORNEY PATEHTED SEP'21 m1 SHEET 3 OF 6 INVENTOR$ ANDREAS M.MICHAE LIDES CHAR LES A .WETHI NGTON ATTORNEY ATENTED SEP21 l9?! SHEET '4 BF 6 ATTORNEY PATENTEBSEP21 l97l SHEET 6 [IF 6 Ill INVENTORS' ANDREAS M. MICHAELIDES CHARLES A.WETHINGTON ATTORNEY SEALED EDGE MACHINE This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for forming a thermoplastic-type selvedge in a textile material and more particularly to methods and apparatus for continuously forming from a roll of material such items as diapers, handkerchiefs, etc., which are automatically with a thermoplastic film and cut from the roll to provide sealed selvedges to prevent unraveling.

Prior to this invention it was known to heat seal a strip of thermoplastic material transverse to the longitudinal direction of a roll of fabric and cut such seal substantially in the center thereof to form individual sealed edge products. An example of such a machine is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,747 wherein a roll of fabric is sealed in the weft direction. This machine takes single-width fabric with woven selvedges in the warp direction and provides a product with only two sealed edges. Economically, it is desirable to take wide widths of fabric and seal longitudinal portions thereof and then sever the sealed portions substantially in the center thereof to provide a plurality of longitudinal extending sealed separated strips of fabric. These portions can then be automatically supplied to a machine which simultaneously transversely seals all the separated strips in the weft direction and then simultaneously severs the separated strips substantially in the center of the transverse seals to provide a plurality of individual textile products with edges sealed to prevent unraveling of the selvedges.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which automatically provides a plurality of sealed edge products from a single width of fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus to apply a thermoplastic material in the longitudinal and transverse direction of a fabric to produce a product which has all the edges thereof sealed.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent as the specification proceeds to describe the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the preferred method and apparatus to produce a sealed edge product;

FIG. 2 and 3 show products produced by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 4 is a perspective blown-up view of the transverse sealing portion ofthe machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of the apron system shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end view of the output nip rolls and conveyor shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view of the input nip rolls and indexing mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the indexing cushioning arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the apron system shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the input nip roll brake.

In the preferred form of the invention sealed edge fabrics are being produced continuously from a roll of material. A roll of fabric of sufficient width to produce two of a desired product such as diapers, towels, etc., has a strip of ther moplastic film such as polyvinyl chloride, nylon-6, etc., heat sealed thereto in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. Then the fabric is slit in the middle of the seal to provide two lengths of fabric and preferably supplied continuously to a machine which heat seals another strip of thermoplastic film across the whole width of each the lengths of fabric. As with the abovementioned longitudinal seal, the film material can by polyvinyl chloride, nylon-6, or any other suitable material. Each of the lengths of fabric are then cut approximately in the center of the seal across the width thereof to provide a sealed edge product. Normally the longitudinal direction of the fabric is the warp direction and the width of the roll of fabric is the fill or weft direction.

FIGS. 2 and 3 represent products obtained from the hereindisclosed invention. FIG. 2 shows a product 10 which has all four edges sealed with a thermoplastic seal 11. The product of FIG. 3 is obtained when the roll of fabric slit longitudinally has a selvedge l2 finished on the loom so it is only necessary to provide thermoplastic seals 11 on three edges thereof.

Looking now to FIG. 1, the machine schematically represented shows an arrangement wherein one of each of the products of FIGS. 2 and 3 are obtained on each cycle of the machine. It is obvious that two products like FIGS. 2 or 3 can be obtained depending on whether none, one or two of the selvedges of the roll of fabric 14 are finished or hemmed prior to introduction into the machine.

In FIG. I the overall machine to produce the products of FIGS. 2 and 3 is schematically shown. The roll of fabric 14 to be sealed is supported on a dolly 16, the transverse position of which is controlled by a conventional edge guide device. Briefly, the edge guide device consists of a sensing element 18 which senses the edge of the fabric 14 and if the edge of the fabric 14 is not properly positioned a signal will be relayed to the control member 20 to move the dolly in one direction or the other. In the preferred form of the invention, the system employed is hydraulic and the dolly 16 is moved back and forth by a hydraulic piston. Such a system is conventional and per se is not part of the invention.

In the preferred form of the invention, the fabric 14 passes under idler rolls 22 and 24 into the nip of feed rolls 26 and 28 from whence it is supplied under dancer roll 30 and idler roll 32 into the nip of sealing rolls, generally designated 34 and 36. Preferably the rolls 34 and 36 are driven at a speed slightly faster than nip rolls 26 and 28 in order to maintain a predetermined tension in the fabric between the two pairs of rolls. Dancer roll 30 automatically controls the speed of roll 26 depending on the vertical position of the dancer roll in a manner such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,385,747.

As discussed briefly before, it is preferred to provide seals on the fabric made from suitable thermoplastic polymer film such as polyvinyl chloride, nylon-6, etc. In the use of such films certain variables have to be taken into consideration such as the pressure exerted on the film-fabric sandwich in the sealing nip, the temperature of the hot surfaces of the nip, the temperature of the fabric entering the nip, the temperature of the film entering the nip, thickness and construction of the fabric, thickness and constituency of the film, the speed at which the fabric passes through, the tensions of the fabric and the tension of the film entering the nip. Also it is felt that the temperature of the film in the hot nip must be at least at the softening point to allow the polymer to flow into the fabric. As an example the softening temperature of a 3.5-milthick polyvinyl chloride plasticized polymer film is about 350 F. To provide the best means to maintain such temperature it is felt that the temperature and speed of the fabric and film coming together at the nip of rolls 34 and 36 should be controlled. If these variables are not controlled, various defects in the seal will occur depending on the type of variance. For example, if the film is not sufficiently warm, the flow into the fabric may be insufficient and. poor seal adherence may result. If the fabric temperature is not sufficiently high, or if the hot surfaces of the pressure nip, are not at a sufficiently high temperature, the fabric and film will be quenched at some temperature below the softening point and again poor seal adherence will result. Conversely, if the fabric temperature exceeds the desired temperature to an extent that the fabric becomes dehydrated discoloration of the fabric can result. In the use of polyvinyl chloride the film temperature prior to entering the nip must be such that it does not approach the softening temperature to-prevent loss of dimensional stability and consequently the production of irregular seals. seals. Further the pressure at the nip has to be sufficient to cause the softened film to adequately penetrate the fabric.

It can be readily. seen from the above that certain conditions must be met once the fabric and film have been selected. As previously discussed, the fabric 14 is delivered from the nip rolls 26 and 28 to the nip of roll members 34 and 36 at a predetermined tension and speed. Depending on the speed selected the fabric can be predetermined tension and speed.

Depending on the speed selected the fabric can be preheated in the area of the longitudinal seal by preheaters 38 above and below the fabric. Preheaters 38, preferably, are infrared lamps which provide radiant energy for preheating of the fabric. schematically shown are pneumatically actuated pistons 40 which are actuated by a fabric-temperature-sensing device, not shown, to actuate members 41 to open and close shutters on the preheaters 38 in response to the temperature sensed to control the heat supplied to the fabric. At slow fabric delivery speeds such as 12-14 yards/min, preheaters 38 normally would not be actuated since the fabric has sufficient time to be heated by the hot portion of the roll members 34 and 36.

Roll members 34 and 36 consist of rubber-covered carrier rolls 42 and cast iron heated rolls 44 and 45 to heat seal the film 46 into the fabric 14. Preferably, the cast iron rolls are heated by electrical cartridge heaters (not shown). Cast iron rolls 44 are preferably treated with a release agent such as silicone to provide the hot roll surfaces with improved release properties. The number of cast iron rolls employed is dependent upon the number of longitudinal seals laid upon the fabric. In the preferred embodiment, since it is desired to lay down two seals 49 and two pairs of cast iron rolls 4% and 45 are employed. To provide controlled nip pressure to the rolls 42, 44 and 45 yoke members 48 and 50 are pivotally secured at 52 and held in the nip forming relationship with the lower rolls by the application of pressure from the pneumatically actuated cylinders 54. Semicircular fabric lifter members 56 actuated by pneumatically actuated cylinder 58 are provided to lift the fabric 14 off the lower hot rolls 44 when the upper rolls 42 and 45 have been automatically automatically pivoted away from the lower rolls when the machine is stopped.

The film 46 to be sealed to the fabric is provided in roll form on film carriers 60 mounted on the machine. Preferably the carriers 60 contain more than one film roll 62 so that the application of film to the fabric can be continuous so that one roll of film can be automatically threaded up as another roll is running out. The film 46 is supplied over an adjustably mounted roll 64 onto the hot surface of the upper hot roll 45 prior to entrance into the nip of the rolls 44. The amount of wrap of the film 46 around the upper roll 45 is dependent on the amount of preheat necessary for the film to be heated to a molten state without it losing its form or continuity and is a function of roll speed, hot roll temperature and film properties. This amount of wrap is controlled by the position of the driven roll 64 relative to the peripheral surface of the upper hot roll 45.

As pointed out before, the lower roll member 34 is driven so that the fabric 14 is drawn into the nip of rolls 42, 44 and 45 as the molten film 46 is applied thereto and penetrates the fabric 14 due to the pressure between the upper and lower hot rolls 44. In the preferred form of the invention the fabric from the longitudinal sealing machine is supplied to another mechanism which also places a transverse seal upon the fabric but it is within the scope of the invention to take up the fabric on a suitable takeup roll after it has been sealed longitudinally and cut. It has been found that when the fabric is supplied to a transverse sealing mechanism there is sufficient time for longitudinal seal to set so additional cooling is not necessary since the production rate of the transverse sealing mechanism is comparatively slow. if it is desired to take up the fabric immediately after longitudinal sealing and cutting cooling cans or rolls should be used in order to set the seal before takeup.

As shown in FIG. 1 the fabric 14 with the longitudinal seals 49 thereon passes over a pair of fixed bars 66 and 68 to a pair of score cutters 70 and 72, the cutting pressure of which is controlled by pneumatic pistons 74 and 76. As is well known in the art, score cutting, a cutting edge bearing on a hardened surface 78, has a squeezing-type separation, which when applied to a still plastic seal forces the seal around the severed yarns. The fixed bars 66 and 68 tend to squeeze out and smooth out the surface of the longitudinal seal 48 so that the cutters 70 and 72 do not pick up portions of the still tacky seal. Thusly, it is an advantage to slit the longitudinal seals 49 by score cutting immediately downstream of the seal application zone because of easy registry of the cutter to the seal and quality of the sealed edge.

The tension is maintained on the fabric 14 after passage through the nip of roll members 34 and 36 by a pair of nip rolls 78 and 80 driven at a speed slightly higher than the speed of the roll members 34 and 36, Nip rolls 78 and 80 and roll members 34 and 36 preferably are driven continuously by the same motor as rolls 34, 36, 78 and 80 and the dancer roll 30 can then be eliminated since the dancer roll 82 which controls the speed of the above mentioned in a manner similar to that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,385,747 will then also control the speed of rolls 26 and 28. Dancer roll 82 within a narrow range also acts as an accumulator since the transverse sealing mechanism operates intermittently while the longitudinal sealing portion of the machine operates continuously. The dancer roll 82, when the transverse sealing mechanism is not taking fabric, moves downwardly as the longitudinal sealing portion of the machine continues to supply longitudinally sealed fabric.

From the dancer roll 82 the longitudinally sealed fabric 14 is supplied under an idler 84 to the nip of the intermittently driven input rolls 86 and 88 of the transverse sealing mechanism of the machine. The input nip rolls 86 and 88 and the output nip rolls 90 and 92 are driven by pneumatically actuated piston 93 which, when actuated, pulls the chain 94 to the left against the bias of spring 96 to rotate sprocket 98 which in turn through suitable mechanical linkage rotates the bottom rolls 86 and 90 a predetermined distance in one direction only. The predetermined distance of rotation of the rolls 86 and 90 determines the length of fabric between transverse seals and can be adjusted to obtain various length products by adjusting the stroke of piston 93. Located under the fabric 14 between the input and output rolls is a continuously rotating apron system 100 for reasons hereinafter explained. To prevent the fabric 14 from engaging the upper surface of the apron system 100 when the fabric 14 is held between the hips of the input and output rolls the nip of the output rolls 90 and 92 are located slightly higher than the nip of the input rolls 86 and 88. To provide tension in the fabric between the input and output rolls the output rolls 90 and 92 are driven at a speed greater than the input rolls 86 and 88. This differential speed between the rolls also tend to keep wrinkles out of the fabric and expedites the passage of a cut product onto the endless conveyor 102.

Assuming for the sake of discussion, the transverse sealing mechanism has been indexed to feed completed sealed products 10 onto the conveyor 102 and fabric 14 is held between the nip rolls 86 and 88 and 90 and 92. The fabric 14 is now in the position to have a transverse seal placed thereon. When the fabric 14 has been moved to the position shown or just before the fabric reaches this position the piston 104 is actuated to advance a strip of film material from the roll of film 186 on the film-feeding mechanism generally designated 108. The film feed and upper platen assembly 109 are identical to and operate in the same manner as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,385,747 to place the strip of advanced film onto the fabric and heat seal same thereto. in other words, the upper platen 100 is actuated to a downward position onto the film material and fabric and cooperates with the lower platen 112 to heat seal the film to the fabric. Then the piston 10d is actuated in the opposite direction to pivot the film feed mechanism back to its original position and the upper platen is lifted up off the newly formed sealed fabric portion. it should be noted at this point that upper platen 110 is fixed relative to lower platen 112 and that upper blade 116 is fixed relative to the lower blade 118 so that when the platen support member 120 is pivoted the platens and blades move together. When the upper platen 110 is retracted the piston 122 is actuated to pivot the platen support member 120 to move the platens and blades counterclockwise to a position where the knife blades 116 and 118 are over and under the previously formed transverse seal. Then the piston 124 is actuated to bring the upper knife 1 16 blade downwardly to cooperate with the lower knife blade 118 to sever the fabric 14 substantially in the center of the seal. The upper blade 118 is retracted and the platen support member 120 pivoted back by the piston 122 to the position shown in FIG. 1. When the platen support member 120 has returned or almost returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 the piston 93 is actuated to rotate the rolls 86 and 88 and rolls 90 and 92. Actuation of output rolls 90 and 92 causes the completed sealed edge products to be delivered to the endless conveyor which deposits them in a suitable container or stacking device. As discussed before, apron system 100 is driven continuously but does not contact the fabric 14 in the position shown in FIG. 1 but the fabric 14, when severed by the blades, will tend to drop onto the aprons. Then when the rolls 86 and 88 are actuated the aprons will guide the fabric 14 into the nip of rolls 90 and 92 for the next operation. Then the herein described operation is successively repeated to provide a plurality of scaled edge products.

Looking now to the drawings in more detail, FIGS. 4 and 5 show more specifically the traverse sealing mechanism. In FIG. 4 the piston 93 has been severed for the sake of illustration and the upper platen 110 is shown in the heat-sealed position. When the upper platen 110 has been raised by the pistons 126 the platen support member 120 will be pivoted to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 to move the lower cutting blade under the newly made seal and the upper blade over the newly made seal for the purpose of severing the fabric 14 substantially in the center of the seal to provide substantially equal seals on both of the severed edges.

As discussed briefly before, the fabric 14 is held between the input nip rolls 86 and 88 and the output nip rolls 90 and 92 so that the cutting blades 116 and 118 are mounted in a fixed position relative to each other, thereby eliminating the necessity of synchronizing the blades on each cut. In other words the blades move relative to the fabric rather than the fabric moving relative to the blades.- Since thismovement is desired the bottom apron roll 186 is spring loaded by spring 130 (FIG. 5) so that the lever arm 132 pivotally mounted at 134 exerts a downward bias on the roll 186 so that when apron roll 136 is moved rearwardly by the platen support 120 the apron roll 186 will cause the apron system 100 to assume the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 to maintain tension on the aprons. It should be noted that a stop member, consisting of a U-shaped bracket 138 connected to platen support member 120, a bolt 140 projecting through an opening 142 in the machine frame 144 and a pair of nuts 146 threaded onto the bolt 140 on opposite sides of the opening, is employed to limit the pivotal movement of the platen support member 120 relative to the frame 144. Obviously, nuts 146 can be adjustedto vary the pivotal movement of the platen support member 120 relative to the frame 144.

The nip pressure between the input nip rolls 86 and 88 is controlled by an air cylinder 148 at each end ofnip roll 88 and the nip pressure between the output roll 90 and 92 is controlled by an air cylinder 150 at each end of nip roll 92. Preferably, the input nip roll pressure is considerably. greater than the output nip roll pressure to ensure a positive feed of the fabric when indexed. The output nip roll pressure under normal conditions is only high enough to take the wrinkles of the fabric without excessively increasing the tension therein.

FIG. 7 shows in more detail the input rolls and indexing mechanisms of the transverse sealing mechanism. The indexing piston 93 is mounted on a suitable frame 152 by brackets I54 and 156. As previously described, air is supplied to the right end (FIG. 7) of the cylinder 93 to move piston rod 158 to the left against the bias of spring 96. Through suitable drive means the lower input roll 86 is driven to feed fabric to the transverse sealing mechanism. Fixed to each of the input rolls 86 and 88 is a brake disc 160 which is engaged by clamping members (not shown) inside of the triangular-shaped housing members 162 when air is supplied to conduits 164 just prior to the bottoming of the piston in the cylinder 93 to prevent overfeed of fabric 14 due to inertia of the rolls 86 and 88. In other words, input rolls 86 and 88 are positively braked to stop the fabric at a predetermined, position.

The inertia of the rolls 86 and 88 is considerable so it is desired to slow the speed of the rolls near the end of the indexing cycle in conjunction with the use of the above-described braking system. Preferably, this is accomplished by dampen ing the stroke of the piston rod 158 at the end of the indexing stroke as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows the cylinder 93 just after the reversing valve 165 has been moved to supply air from air source or conduit 166 to conduit 168 through the conduit 170 in the valve assembly 172. As the pistonhead 174 moves rapidly to the left air is exhausted through conduit 176, valve 165, conduit 178 into the receiver '180 and bled to atmosphere through bleed 182. As the pressure in the left end of the cylinder builds up due to the back pressure created by the bleed 182 the pistonhead 174 will slow down as it nears the end of the stroke since the back pressure will oppose the incoming air pressure on the right-hand side of the pistonhead 174. Slowing down of the pistonhead 174 and rod 158 will in turn slow down the speed of the chain 94 and consequently the rotation of input nip roll 86. As discussed above, the brake-clamping means will be actuated to clamp the brake disc just priorto the arrival of the pistonhead 174 at the end of its stroke.

As soon as the indexing of a preselected length of fabric 14 has been completed, the valve will be automatically reversed and air will be supplied to theleft end of the pistonhead through conduits 166, and 176 and air will be slowly bled from the right-hand side of the pistonhead through conduit 168, valve 165, conduit 184 and bleed 186 to return the pistonhead 174 to the position shown in FIG. 8. Input nip roll 86 will not be rotated since an overrunning clutch is employed between the nip roll 86 and the drive from the piston 93.

It can be seen that the length offabric indexed can be varied within certain dimensions by changing thestroke of pistonhead 174. This can be accomplished very readily and provides a machine which can be employed to seal and cut textile products of varying lengths providing great flexibility with one machine.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the apron system and preferably consists of a plurality of endless narrow aprons 184 continuously driven by the apron roll 128. As noted above, a spring 130 is employed for each apron 184 since a separate roll 186 is employed for each apron. The springs 130 are connected to an elongated tube 188 by eye hooks 190 screwed or otherwise secured therein.

FIG. 10 is a blown-up view of the caliper-disc brake shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to brake the input nip rolls 86 and 88 as the pistonhead 174 bottoms in the cylinder'93. This is a commercially available brake and clamps the disc 160 mounted on the ends of the nip roll shafts when it is desired to stop the input nip rolls 86 and 88 for the reason hereinbefore explained.

The herein-disclosed apparatus and method efficiently and automatically provides a roll of material with a longitudinal seal and transverse seal and delivers a textile product which has all the edges sealed to prevent unraveling. The disclosed apparatus has the further advantage that it can readily be adapted to provide different-lengths of sealed edge textile products. Further, the apparatus includes an improved apron system to aid in feeding the fabric when the fabric is indexed after severance of a finished textile product. The apparatus also includes a braking system to ensure correct indexing of the proper length of fabric to produce a product of desired size.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is contemplated that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention and it is desired to be limited only by the claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. Apparatus to provide sealed edge textile products comprising: a frame, a first pair of rolls in nip-forming engagemerit, means supplying a running length of fabric to said first pair of rolls, a second pair of rolls in nip-forming engagement,

indexing means mounted on said frame to periodically index fabric between said pairs of rolls, means to heat seal a ther moplastic strip of film to said fabric, means to sever said fabric through said seal and an apron system mounted between said first pair of rolls and heat sealing means to guide said fabric toward said second pair of rolls when said fabric has been severed and said indexing means has been actuated, said heat sealing and severing means being mounted on a support member pivotally mounted with respect to said frame, said apron system including a plurality of rolls with one of said rolls mounted on said support member and movable therewith.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rolls further includes a fixed roll and a movable roll, said movable roll being biased away from said one roll to maintain tension on the apron system.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said apron system includes a plurality of narrow endless bands with each of said bands having a movable roll operably associated therewith.

4. Apparatus to provide sealed edge textile product comprising: a frame, a first pair of rolls in nip-forming engagement, means supplying a running length of fabric to said first pair of rolls, a second pair of rolls in nip-forming engagement, indexing means mounted on said frame to periodically index fabric between said pairs of rolls, means to heat seal a thermoplastic strip of film to said fabric, means to sever said fabric through said seal and brake means operably associated with said first pair of rolls to brake said first pair of rolls at the end of the indexing stroke to compensate for the inertia of rolls, said indexing means including a means to slow the first pair of rolls near the end of the indexing stroke prior to braking of the rolls by said brake means. 

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rolls further includes a fixed roll and a movable roll, said movable roll being biased away from said one roll to maintain tension on the apron system.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said apron system includes a plurality of narrow endless bands with each of said bands having a movable roll operably associated therewith.
 4. Apparatus to provide sealed edge teXtile product comprising: a frame, a first pair of rolls in nip-forming engagement, means supplying a running length of fabric to said first pair of rolls, a second pair of rolls in nip-forming engagement, indexing means mounted on said frame to periodically index fabric between said pairs of rolls, means to heat seal a thermoplastic strip of film to said fabric, means to sever said fabric through said seal and brake means operably associated with said first pair of rolls to brake said first pair of rolls at the end of the indexing stroke to compensate for the inertia of rolls, said indexing means including a means to slow the first pair of rolls near the end of the indexing stroke prior to braking of the rolls by said brake means. 